By Charlie Radatz
A Special Meeting of the Richardson County Board of Commissioners was held Tue., June 30. During that meeting the Road Department Union representatives Bryan Dettmann, Dustin Metzner and James Coonce along with Justin Hubly, the Executive Director of the NE Association of Public Employees/AFSCME Local 61 reviewed with the Board the proposed contract they presented for the period July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2023. Jerry L. Pigsley of Woods Aitken, LLP, was also in attendance for this meeting for Richardson County.
A motion was made by Commissioner John Caverzagie to go into an executive session at 8:58 a.m. to discuss contract negotiations and strategy and for the protection of the public interest. The motion seconded by Commissioner Sickel and approved on a 3-0 vote.
A motion was then made by Chairman Sickel to close the executive session and return to the regular meeting agenda at 9:37 a.m and that motion received unanimous approval.
The Board then presented a counter-proposal to that proposed by the Road Department Union. After reviewing the counter-proposal, the Road Department Union presented what it would find acceptable within the County’s counter proposal and those parts that they requested remain as first presented.
A motion was made by Commissioner Sickel to go into an executive session at 10:18 a.m. to review contract negotiations and for the protection of the public interest. That motion was seconded by Frank and approved by a 3-0 vote.
Following that closed session, a motion was made by Sickel to close the executive session at 10:30 a.m. and return to the regular meeting agenda, a motion seconded by Frank and approved by unanimous vote.
The Board then presented a second counter-proposal to the proposed agreement presented by the Road Department Union. After its review, the Road Department Union presented an offer to the County’s second counter-proposal for consideration.
Commissioners voted again to recess their regular meeting agenda and go into an executive session at 10:44 a.m. to further discuss contract negotiations and for the protection of the public interest.
Following further discussion, Commissioners voted to close that executive session at 10:48 a.m. and returned to their regular meeting agenda.
The Board then presented its third counter proposal to that presented by the Road Department Union. After reviewing the Road Department Union presented another counter offer.
A petition requesting attachment of additional lands to Rural Water District #2 has been filed in the Office of the Richardson County Clerk.
A motion was made by Chairman Sickel to set a public hearing date of July 14 at 11:30 a.m. to receive input from the public in favor of or opposition of said inclusion of property into the Rural Water District #2.
On a motion made by Caverzagie and seconded by Frank, the Commissioners voted to adjourn their June 30 special meeting at 11:30 a.m.
